Surge in public finances and election prospects mean pressure is on for a giveaway budget Spending by Mr Donnelly’s department is already €1bn ahead of where it should be after the first half of the year.Mr Donohoe said he has met on a number of occasions with Mr Donnelly, and they are close to finalising … Read more
Cyprus is outperforming the European Union average in various public health metrics. The average life expectancy in Cyprus is 81.7 years, which is higher than the EU average of 80.7 years. Older people in Cyprus live longer without activity limitations compared to the EU average, with men expecting 19.1 years and women 21.5 years without limitations at age 65. Cyprus has the lowest rate of preventable and treatable deaths in the EU, at less than 200 per 100,000 people. It also has the lowest rate of unmet needs for medical care in Europe, with less than one percent of people reporting unmet healthcare needs.
Despite these positive outcomes, Cyprus spends less on health than the EU average, with 9.4 percent of its GDP going to health expenditure and a per capita annual spend of €2,686, compared to the EU average of €4,028. The proportion of healthcare costs paid out of pocket in Cyprus is 10 percent, lower than the EU average of 15 percent.
However, Cyprus faces challenges with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with 43 percent of people with bloodstream infections testing positive for such bacteria, nearly three times the EU average of 15 percent. The number of nursing graduates is also low, with 15 per year per 100,000 people, resulting in 4.8 practicing nurses per 1,000 people, which is below the EU average of 8.5. Conversely, Cyprus has five doctors per 1,000 people, which is above the EU average.
Regarding lifestyle factors, 23 percent of people in Cyprus smoke daily, which is higher than the EU average of 19 percent. Only four percent of Cypriots reported heavy drinking, significantly lower than the EU average of 19 percent. The obesity rate in Cyprus is 15 percent, slightly lower than the EU average.